Over 200 game developers from around New Zealand will descend on AUT University next Friday 28 June for The New Zealand Game Developers Conference. The conference is a one day, intensive deep dive into the business and art of video games aimed at professional and indie game developers.

Keynote presenters include Jason Harwood, producer of global hit iPhone games Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride, and Alex St John, former Microsoft GM Entertainment and Founder of leading online gaming company WildTangent.com.

The conference features leading game developers sharing real experiences and the knowledge that has made them global successes.

"Presenting this year are the makers of several Top 10 iPhone games, New Zealand's largest crowd-funded project, two Academy Award winners, a BAFTA nominee and the man who gave Bill Gates a shotgun and put him inside Doom," says NZ Game Developers Association chairperson Stephen Knightly. "That's an indication of the calibre of people developing games in New Zealand at the moment."

"Games are New Zealand's fastest growing creative sector export, and there are several world-beating local studios who can share their expertise with those starting out."